Pattern wheel for knitting machines



Oct. 9, 1928. 1,687,279

W. C. AUSTIN PATTERN WHEEL FOR KNITTING MACHINES Patented Get. 9,1928.

UNITED STAT WILLIAM C. AUSTIN,

OF PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO DAVID I.

AUSTIN, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PATTERN WHEEL FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

Application filed May 22,

My invention relates to pattern wheels for circular knitting machine,the principal object of the invention being to construct such a wheel ina simplified manner compared with the wheels of the same generalcharacter in use at the present time.

Another object of the invention is to construct the wheel in such amanner that it will not be necessary to remove the wheel from themachine, to which it "is adapted, when it is desired to make a change inthe pattern of the fabric to be knit-upon the knitting machine. r IOther objects and details of the invention will be more fully disclosedhereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved pattern wheel, illustrating theposition it would occupy, when attached to a knitting machine, relativeto the needles of the knitting machine;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1; a

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. l is a plan view of the major'element included in my improvedpattern wheel.

My improved pattern wheel is adapted to be rotatably mounted on the camring of a circular knitting whether the machine be of the revolvingcylinder type or the stationary cylinder type, the wheel being adaptedto engage the butts of the knitting needles thereof and to be rotated bythe relative movement between the cam ring and the knitting cylinder,its primary object being to engage the butts of certain ot the needlesfor the purpose of raising them from the normal knitting plane to aplane wherein they will not be afiected by the stitch cam of the machineand will, therefore, retain the stitch, previously formed thereon, torthe purpose of forming a design in the fabric being knit. The needlesare subsequently lowered to the normal knitting plane to perform regularknitting by means formin no part of the present invention.

As shown particularly in Fig. 3, my improved pattern wheel comprises abody portion 1 in the form of a disc, and is provided with a hub 2having a circular opening 3 for the reception of a stud adapted to besecured on the cam ring of the machine and upon which the Wheelrevolves. The periphery of machine, regardless of the tongues 5, whereby1926. Serial No..111,005.

the disc lis provided with aseries of equally I spaced and radiallydisposed grooves 4:, between which are formed radially disposed tongues5.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the grooves 4' and the. tongues 5 are formedat an angle with respect to, and across the faceof, the disc 1, and in avertical plane parallel to the plane of movement of the needles withwhich the wheel co-operates. 7 As illustrated in Fig. 2, the disc 1revolves in a plane disposed at an angle with respect to the plane ofthe needles and to the normal knitting plane thereof, one

- side of the wheel being disposed below the normal knitting'plane andthe opposite side 1 thereof being disposed above the normal knittingplane, as clearly illustrated in said figure. 4

The disc 1 is provided with an annular groove 6 whereby an annularshoulder 7is formed in the disc. Pins 8 are adapted to be placed on' thedisc 1, each having one end engaging the annular shoulder 7 the oppositeend thereof extendingv into one of the grooves 4 and between theadjacent tongues 5, the bottom side of the pin resting on the base ofthe annular groove 6 and the upper side thereof being adapted to beengaged by a retaining plate 9. Screws 10 are provided and pass throughthe retaining plate 9 and into threaded apertures formed in the disc 1,whereby the pins 8 are securely clamped between the base of the annulargroove 6 and the under side of the plate 9. The plate 9 is provided witha hub 11 which encircles the hub 2 of the disc 1. The upper side of thepins 8 lie in a plane slightly below the upper edge 12-015 a pocket isformed for the purpose of receiving the butt 13 of a knitting needle 14.

In operation the pins 8 are placed in certain of the grooves 4, inaccordance with the design desired to be knit in the fabric, theremaining grooves being open to receive but not to affect the operationof the remaining needles. As the needles revolve rlative to therotational centre of the wheel, the butts of the successive needlesenter the successive grooves 4 of the wheel and thereby rotate thewheel. Where no pin .8 is positioned in the groove, the needle pursuesthe normal knitting plane illustrated at m in Fig. 2, but when a pin 8is positioned in the groove 4, the needle registering with thatparticular groove is raised to the plane illustrated at y in said figurefor the purpose hereinabo've stated.

In order to alter the pattern of the fabric being knit, it is notnecessary to remove the wheel from its position on the cam ring, and bysimply backing off the screws 10 and thereby releasing the pins from thefrictional engagement of the plate 9 and the base of the groove 6 formedin the disc 1, the inclividual pins may be removed from and replaced inany desired position in the wheel, simply by the use of a. pair ofpointed pliers capable of entering any of the grooves 4. VVhe-n thedesired change is completed the screws 10 are again tightened, and theWheel is thereby placed in condition for operation.

It will be understood that while I have shown pins of cylindrical orcircular form in cross-section, I am not limited to the use of thisform, as the pins may be of a rectangular or any other desired form incrosssection.

Having disclosed one embodiment of my invention, variousmodificationswill inevit-' ably present themselves to one familiar withmechanical arts, therefore, only such limitations should be placed uponthe scope of my invention as prescribed by the appended claims, ordictated by the prior art of record.

I claim:

1. In a pattern Wheel, adapted to be used in conjunction with a knittingmachine, comprising a circular disc having a concentric groove and aplurality of radially disposed ee /327s grooves formed therein, the saidradial grooves extending between the outer wall of said concentricgroove and the periphery of the wheel and the inner wall of saidconcentrio groove forming an abutment in radial alignment with saidradially disposed grooves; cylindrical pins having the samecross-sectional configuration throughout their entire lengths, locatedin said radial grooves with one end in contact with said abutment; andmeans for securing said pins in position.

2. In a. pattern wheel, adapted to be used in conjunction with aknitting machine, comprising a. circular disc having a concentric grooveand a plurality of radially disposed grooves formed therein, the saidradial grooves extending between the outer wall of said concentricgroove and the periphery of the wheel and the inner wall of said'concentric groove forming an abutmentin' radial alignment with saidradially disposed groovesrpins located in said radial grooves with oneend in contact with said abutment; a retaining plate overlying saidcircular disc; an annular depending flange on said retaining plate,adapted to fit within said concentric groove and engage said pinstherein; and means for pressing the said flange against said pins andthereby press the pins against the base of said concentric groove, forrigidly maintaining said pins in position.

WILLIAM C. AUSTIN,

